Leslie Vella, deputy CEO of the Malta Tourism Authority, has been appointed as Malta’s liaison officer to the World Tourism Organisation.
The appointment was made by Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis.
Mr Vella replaces Joe Grima, who stepped down after a storm of controversy over Facebook comments, deemed by many as racist.
Mr Vella will coordinate Malta’s relationship with the WTO in the various areas of its operation ranging from statistics to sustainable development, human resource development to communication and crisis management besides active participation in fora such as the UNWTO Commission for Europe and its General Assembly.
Mr Vella is currently also the vice president of the European Travel Commission.
He joined the MTA's predecessor the NTOM in 1983 and, during his career within the organisation, has served in various posts with particular emphasis on market intelligence, planning and strategic development.